Pulses are an important source of protein in vegetarian diets, providing essential amino acids that cereals and grains lack. Proteins are needed for growth, tissue synthesis, digestive juices, hormones, and more. Pulses also provide energy and fiber. While protein quality varies, pulses have a net protein utilization of around 65 compared to egg protein. A table lists the nutrient contents of various pulses commonly consumed in India, such as Bengal gram, black gram, cowpea, and soybean. Pulses additionally contain vitamins and folic acid.

1. Nutrition: Pulses
Chandan N
IX Term

2.  Pulses are the chief source of proteins in a vegetarian
diet apart from milk.
 Proteins are required for
 Growth and synthesis of tissues of body.
 Formation of digestive juices, hormones, plasma proteins,
enzymes and haemoglobin.
 Proteins also serve as alternative source of energy for
the body.
 8-12% of total energy requirement should be
provided from proteins.
 Proteins provide 4 kCal energy per gram.

3.  Pulses are rich in essential amino acids such as
lysine, threonine, tryptophan which the cereals and
grains lack.
 Protein quality differs from food to food and is based
on net protein utilization.
 Net protein utilization: Egg protein is taken as
reference protein and the value of others are
expressed as relative to egg (100).
 The net protein utilization of pulses is assumed to be
65.

4. Sl.
No.
Pulses
(100g)
Protein
(g)
Fat (g) Carbohdrate
(g)
Energy
(kCal)
Crude fibre
(g)
Calcium
(mg)
Iron (mg)
1 Bengal gram 17.1 5.3 60.9 360 3.9 202 4.6
2 Black gram 24 1.4 59.6 347 0.9 154 3.8
3 Cow pea 24.1 1.0 54.5 323 3.8 77 8.6
4 Field bean 24.9 0.8 60.1 347 1.4 60 2.7
5 Green gram
(Whole)
24 1.3 56.7 334 4.1 124 4.4
6 Green gram
(Split)
24.5 1.2 59.9 348 0.8 75 3.9
7 Horse gram 22 0.5 57.2 321 5.3 287 6.77
8 Kesari dhal 22 0.6 56.6 345 2.3 90 6.3
9 Peas (green) 7.2 0.1 15.9 93 4.0 20 1.5
10 Peas (dry) 19.7 1.1 56.5 315 4.5 75 7.05
11 Rajmah 22.9 1.3 60.6 346 4.8 260 5.1
12 Red gram 22.3 1.7 57.6 335 1.5 73 2.7
13 Soyabean 43.2 19.5 20.9 432 3.7 240 10.4
14 Ground nut 25.3 40.1 26.1 567 3.1 90 2.5
Nutritive Values of different pulses commonly used in India

5.  Besides the previously mentioned nutrients pulses
are a good source of Vitamin B and folic acid.

6. References
 Essential Paediatrics by O.P.Ghai.
 Nutritive value of Indian Foods, National Institute
of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research,
Hyderabad. Pg47-48,59-60.